Cantilever type vertically adjustable gate arrangement



K. G. APPELL Oct. 6, 1970 GATE ARANGNT CANTILEVER TYPE VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March lO, 1969 WEA/70H Kenne/h Gi ppe/l BY 01121/ Arr @RA/EY K. G. APPELL Oct. 6, 1970 CANTILEVER TYPE VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE GATE ARRANGEMENT Filed March 1o, 1969 4 Sheets-Sheet 23 ArroR/VEY Oct. 6, 1970 K. G. APPELL. 3,531,895

CANTILEVER TYPE VERTICALLY DJUSTABLE GATE ARRANGEMENT Filed March 1o, 1969 l 4 sheets-sheet 5 54 Sun- INVENTOR enne/h 6. Apps# BY wmv ATTORNEY Oct. 6, 1970 K, G, APPELL 3,531,895

CANTILEVER TYPE VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE GATE ARRANGEMENT Filed March l0, 1969 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

, INVENTOR Kenne/h G. ppe// B7 wm JLM ATTORNEY 3,531,895 CANTILEVER TYPE VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE GATE ARRANGEMENT Kenneth G. Appell, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Anchor Post Products, Inc., Baltimore, Md., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Mar. 10, 1969, Ser. No. 805,672 Int. Cl. Ef 11/00 U.S. Cl. 49-360 10 Claims ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE A vertically rising gate system is provided. This system includes a vertical upright support at one post containing a vertical track arrangement for supporting a gate for vertical opening and closing along the vertical track. Surfaces are provided on the vertical track for engagement by plural wheel means which are adapted for bearing on the surfaces for coupling one end of the gate to the track means. The plural track means consist of a pair of trucks spacedly affixed to the end of the gate means anext to the vertical track. Each truck has at least two wheels mounted Vin respective angular relationship for bearing on the surfaces on the vertical track. A self aligning universal joint is provided for aixing each truck to the gate adjacent the vertical track. The universal joint includes a ball headed stud which is affixed to the gate and a socket for receiving the ball head of the stud between two parts of the truck fastened together. In addition, the gate is provided with a counter balance and an opening mechanism positioned at the end of the gate opposite the vertical track for urging the gate upwardly along the vertical track.

This invention relates generally to gate arrangements, and more particularly it pertains to vertically rising gate arrangement of the cantilevered type.

Vertically rising gates if of appreciable length are troublesome because one end will rise before the other end, with a consequent jamming in the guide posts.

Various mechanisms have been proposed for synchronizing the lift at opposite ends to overcome this difficulty. However, they all are involved, expensive, and troublesome in themselves.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a gateway arrangement which is counterweighted and has a mechanism for gate lifting solely in one gatepost.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cantilever trolley arrangement which will support and vertically guide a horizontally elongated closure.

To provide a trolley arrangement having at least a pair of trucks for vertical displacement and guidance of an object wherein the trucks are self aligning, is still another object of the invention.

And another object of this invention is to provide an operation arrangement for manually locating and locking a linearly positionable object.

Other objects and attendant advantages of this invention will 'become more readily apparent and understood from the following detailed specification and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a gate arrangement incorporating features of this invention with phantom lines indicating the raised condition of the gate;

FIG. 2 is a cross section taken on line 2 2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross section similar to FIG. 2 taken on line 3 3 of FIG. 1;

0 FIG. 4 is a breakaway side view of the top of the first 7 vertical post of the gate of FIG. 1;

3,531,895 Patented Oct. 6, 1970 rice' FIG. 5 depicts the elements of FIG. 4 as viewed from above on line 5 5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a side view of a truck shown in a portion of the vertical track;

FIG. 7 is a righthand view relative to FIG. 6 depicting the same elements;

FIG. 8 is a rear elevation of the first post depicting the operator connection therefrom to the gate;

(IIG. 9 is a top view, partly in section, of the operator; an

FIG. 10 is a side view taken on section line 10 10 of FIG. 9.

Referring now to the details of the invention as shown in the drawings, reference numeral 10 indicates generally a horizontally elongated gate. This gate 10 extends between a tall pair of vertically arranged posts 12 and 14. The first post 12 is tubular, preferably of rectangular cross section, while the second post 14 is optionally so. A pair of spaced vertical guides 16 and 18 are attached along the length of the second post 14 to steady and guide one end of the gate 10 as shown best in FIG. 2.

For this purpose, a wheel 20 is journaled at right angles on a bracket 22 secured to one end of the gate 10 and is embraced :by the guides 16 and 18. Optionally, the guides 16 and 18 may be mounted vertically of other structure, such as the side of a building if desired instead of employing the second post 14.

As shown best in FIG. 3, a vertical guide track and support 22 is mounted with brackets 24 on the side of the first post 12. This guide track and support 22 is made up of two longitudinally recessed track sections 26 and 28 clamped together in opposition on the brackets 24 with bolts and nuts 30.

A counterweight 32 is housed with vertical freedom inside the first post 12, an access door 34 being provided therefor in the lower back side of the post 12. This counterweight 32 is attached to the top of the gate 10 by a cable 36 which is reeved over a roller 38 and a sheave 40 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The journal block 42 for the sheave 40 is mounted adjacent a cable entry aperture 44 in the upper side of the first post 12. The roller 38 is mounted on a through bolt and nut 46 inside the post 12 opposite to the aperture 44.

With reference to FIG. 2, the gate 10 is cantilevered upon a pair of ballheaded studs 48; one spaced above the other as far as possible. These studs 48 extend freely through a longitudinal gap 50 provided between the track sections 26 and 28 and connect each to a separate truck assembly 52 therewithin. The truck assemblies 52 are each made in matching halves S4 and 56, which, when bolted together with screws 58 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, form a socket 60 which embraces the ball of the ball headed stud 48 with limited freedom.

The truck assemblies 52 are provided with a pair of wheels 62, one spaced above and one below the socket 60 on journals 64. An extending ear `66 from each half 54 of truck assembly 52, carries a journaled wheel 68. The pair of wheels I68 is at right angles to the pair of wheels 62; both being embraced by the inner walls of guide track and sup-port 22 and can roll therealong.

To raise and lower the gate 10, an endless roller chain 70 is provided on the back side of the first post 12 as shown in FIG. 8. The upper end of the chain passes over an idler sprocket 72 at the top of post 12, the lower end passing through an operator 74.

This operator 74 may be of the motor driven type or :be manual as shown. lIn either case, the chain 70 is joined to the end of gate 10 by means of a connecting bracket 76. The manual type operator 74, shown best in FIGS. 9 and 10, consists of a U-shaped bracket 78 which is secured to the post 12 with screws 80'. A sprocket 82 3 for the chain 70 is secured upon a shaft 84 with one end of the latter extending externally of the bracket 78.

An arm 86 is fastened on this end of shaft 84. Still further outwardly, a hand crank 88 is there pivotally mounted intermediate the ends of the latter on a pin 90. The end 92 of crank 88A remote from the handle is formed at an angle toward the bracket 78- so as to enter one of a plurality of detent holes 94 in the face of bracket 78, best shown in FIG. 10. A compression-coiled spring 96 between the end of the arm 86 and the crank 88 provides a bias for this purpose.

To release the gate 10, it is only necessary to oscillate the hand crank 88 about pin 90 to extract the end 92 from a detent hole 94. After the gate is positioned as desired by rotation of the crank 88, the latter is released and the end 92 of hand crank 88 again engages a detent hole 94.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. A vertically rising gate system, comprising, means for upright support including vertical track means, gate means for vertical opening and closing along said vertical track means, said vertical track means having a rst surface disposed substantially transversely to the plane of said grate means and a second surface disposed substantially parallel with the plane of said gate means, plural wheel means adapted to bear on said tirst and second surfaces of said vertical track means for coupling one end of said gate means to said vertical track means, said plural track means consisting of a pair of trucks spacedly afxed to the end of said gate means anext said vertical track means, each said truck having at least two wheels thereon mounted in respective angular relationship for bearing on said rst and second surfaces, a self aligning universal joint for aixing each said truck to said gate means, said self aligning universal joint including a ball headed stud aixed to said gate means on a socket for receiving said balll head of said stud between two parts of said truck fastened together, and counter balance means positioned to the Vend of said gate means opposite said track means for urging said gate means upwardly along said vertical track means.

2. A gate system as recited in claim 1, wherein said vertical track means comprises a rectangular section channel member having a longitudinal slot therein adapted for passage of said studs along said slot.

3. A gate system as recited in claim '1, wherein a said truck comprises the two said parts, consisting of matching halves, two pairs of wheels, and two single wheels; the

said pairs of wheels spacedly aligned above and below the said socket, short of the terminal extension of each said half; and a single Wheel on eac'h said terminal extension aligned at right angles with the said pair of wheels.

4. A gate system as recited in claim 1, all said plural wheel means and vertical track means being positioned substantially in the plane of said gate means.

5. A gate system as recited in claim 1, and additionally a vertical guide laterally adjacent said gate means at the end of said gate means opposite said vertical track means, and a wheel, said Wheel being aixed to said gate means and adapted for coupling said vertical gate therewith.

6. A gate system as recited in claim 5, wherein said vertical guide has a surface disposed substantially parallel with the plane of said gate means, and said Wheel is adapted for bearing on the surface of said vertical guide.

7. A gate system as recited in claim 1, said counter balance means comprising a pulley on the upright support means, a line reeved through said pulley, said gate means being attached to one end of said line, and a counterweight attached to the other end of said line.

8. A gate system as recited in claim 7, said upright support means comprising a hollow member having an aperture for said line adjacent said pulley, and said counterweight being suspended from said line within said hollow member.

9. A gate system as recited in claim 1, and means for vertically raising said gate means comprising upper and lower rotary members on said upright support means, an endless chain over said rotary members and attached to said gate means, and means including a bracket and a handle for rotating said lower rotary member.

10. A gate system as recited in claim 9, said bracket having a detent member, said handle having a detent member adapted to engage said bracket detent member, and a resilient member urging engagement of all said detent members.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 995,338 6/1911 Folsom 49--158 1,085,683 2/1914 -HerOuX 49-158 1,487,106 3/ 1924 Kelly 49-177 1,549,203 `8/ 1925 McClure 49-360 X 2,405,899 8/1946l Otti 49--87 2,755,083 7/ 195 6 Renaud et al 49-360 X FOREIGN PATENTS 837,784 6/ 1960 Great Britain.

DENNIS L. TAYLOR, Primary Examiner U.s. C1. X.R. 49-404, 445 

